About Our Lady of Hope · Port Orange, Florida
Our Lady of Hope is a Roman Catholic parish in Port Orange, Florida, part of the Diocese of Orlando. Founded on September 13, 1981 by Father George Moreau, the parish grew out of humble beginnings — early Masses were held at a mobile-home park clubhouse, public schools, and a CWA hall — before the current church on Clyde Morris Boulevard was blessed in January 1989. Today the parish serves the Port Orange and greater Volusia County community through a robust schedule of daily and Sunday Masses, sacraments, faith formation for children and youth, a St. Vincent de Paul outreach and thrift store, Knights of Columbus Council 8086, and a notable monthly mobile food distribution that has fed hundreds of local families.
- Established
- 1981
- Patron
- Our Lady of Hope (Our Lady of Pontmain, the Marian apparition of January 17, 1871 at Pontmain, France)
- Rector
- Fr. Matthew Mello
- Diocese
- Diocese of Orlando
Why belong here
Our Lady of Hope is a worshiping, welcoming community that takes its mission to feed and serve seriously: alongside daily and Sunday Mass with live-streamed Vigil Masses, the parish runs a robust faith-formation program for children and youth, a year-round Confirmation track, RCIA, a St. Vincent de Paul outreach and parish thrift store, an active Knights of Columbus Council 8086, and a nationally recognized monthly mobile food distribution that has distributed tens of thousands of pounds of groceries to local families in partnership with Catholic Charities of Central Florida and Second Harvest. Visitors can join any time for Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Saturdays, or one of the many parish groups that make this a true community of service.
Mass times at Our Lady of Hope
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM (in the reconciliation room in the church)
Adoration times
- First Friday of the month — Adoration following the 8:30 AM daily Mass (begins ~9:00 AM, or ~9:30 AM when a funeral precedes it)
Welcome & Parish Identity
Our Lady of Hope describes itself as 'a worshiping and welcoming parish community serving the Kingdom of God,' where parishioners 'celebrate and live our faith in Jesus Christ through the Sacraments, and by our words and actions.' The parish invites visitors to stop by the office, join a ministry, attend Mass, or visit the parish thrift store.
- Address: 4675 Clyde Morris Blvd., Port Orange, FL 32129
- Phone: 386-788-6144
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (closed 12–1 PM); Fri 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- After-Hours Last Rites: 386-846-5761
Our History
Founded September 13, 1981 by Father George Moreau, the parish grew from humble beginnings — early Masses at Carriage Cove Mobile Home Park, Spruce Creek High School and Elementary, and the CWA hall — into a debt-free community with a blessed church (January 15, 1989) and a parish center (Easter 1997). Six pastors have shepherded the parish across more than four decades, including Pastor Emeritus Fr. Raymond O'Leary (1989–2008).
- Founded September 13, 1981 by Fr. George Moreau
- Hall-church opened Holy Thursday 1983
- Current church blessed January 15, 1989 ($1.9 million)
- Mortgage burned November 20, 1994
- Parish center completed Easter 1997; hall converted to offices July 1997
- Fr. Raymond O'Leary, Pastor Emeritus, died October 9, 2019
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish's Faith Formation office serves the whole community with 'a commitment to life-long faith formation,' offering programs that foster a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and growth in the Roman Catholic tradition.
- Elementary Children's Faith Formation — Gina Benedetto
- Middle & High School Youth Ministry — Misty Clark
- Confirmation (two-year; begins in 8th grade; received in January of Year 2)
- RCIA / Becoming Catholic — Jasmine Rosales; meets Sundays at 9:00 AM
Youth Ministry
Youth Ministry sessions meet in the Youth Room at the west end of the Parish Office Building, with separate tracks for middle schoolers and confirmation candidates. Service hours are available through many parish ministries.
- 6th & 7th Grades — Sundays 10:30 AM – 11:45 AM, fee $45, snack provided
- 8th–12th Grade — Sundays 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM; Confirmation Year 1 $45, Year 2 $65, Post-Confirmation free, lunch provided
- Confirmation Year 1 for 8th graders+; Year 2 culminates in Confirmation in January 2027
- Service opportunities: Thrift Store, Children's Faith Formation, liturgical ministry, kitchen help, Knights of Columbus events, Youth Orchestra/Choir
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for each of the seven sacraments through age-appropriate formation classes, parent meetings, and (for adults) the RCIA process.
- Infant/Child Baptism (under age 7) — virtual class for parents and godparents; celebrated 3rd Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM Masses
- Baptism for ages 7+ — through RCIA
- First Communion & First Reconciliation — taken with regular Faith Formation classes
- Confirmation — two-year program beginning in 8th grade; adult Confirmation via RCIA
- Marriage — appointment with the priest required
- Anointing of the Sick — 1st Tuesday after daily Mass; Last Rites available after hours (386-846-5761)
Parish Staff
The parish is served by a pastor and parochial vicar, five permanent deacons, and a full office, music, formation, facilities, and thrift-store team.
- Fr. Matthew Mello — Pastor
- Fr. Paul (Khanh) Dau — Parochial Vicar
- Deacons: Michael S. Pettit, Mike Willems, Peter DiGiuseppe, Nick Amicone, David Sandburg
- Maureen Kealhofer — Business Administrator / Operations Manager
- Chiquita Rodgers — Admin. Coordinator / Secretary
- Mary Goslin, Liz Lilly, Melissa Soto — Office Staff
- Debra Main — Director of Liturgy / Minister of Music & Funeral Services Coordinator
- Gina Benedetto — Children's Faith Formation
- Misty Clark — Youth Ministry
- Jasmine Rosales — RCIA Coordinator
- John Rodgers — Facilities Manager
- Janet Oddo & Ruby Barragan — Thrift Store
Music & Liturgy
Liturgical music at Our Lady of Hope is led by Director of Liturgy / Minister of Music Debra Main, with opportunities for parishioners of all ages — including a Youth Orchestra and Youth Choir that serve the 9:00 AM Sunday Mass.
- Director of Liturgy / Minister of Music: Debra Main
- Adult choirs and instrumental ensembles (per bulletin)
- Youth Orchestra & Youth Choir serve the 9:00 AM Mass — contact the parish office at 788-6144
- Liturgical ministries include Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Altar Servers, and Ushers
Outreach & Charity
Outreach is a hallmark of Our Lady of Hope, anchored by St. Vincent de Paul, a parish thrift store, and a nationally recognized monthly mobile food distribution. Fr. Mello has publicly described the food giveaway as 'extending the compassion of God that we are called to do.'
- Our Lady of Hope St. Vincent de Paul Outreach Ministry — 501(c)(3) (EIN 46-2351795)
- Our Lady of Hope Thrift Store, 1080 Reed Canal Rd., South Daytona, FL 32119 — Mon–Sat 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM; proceeds fund St. Vincent de Paul and emergency disaster aid
- Knights of Columbus Council 8086 — council funds and volunteers; runs the 'Knights Shield' program shopping for high-risk parishioners
- Monthly Mobile Food Distribution — 4th Friday of each month, in partnership with Catholic Charities of Central Florida and Second Harvest Food Bank; a single event has served ~300 families with up to 19,000 lbs of food in under an hour
- Bingo (Thursdays) — doors open 4 PM, first game 6 PM, minimum package $15
- Ford Bronco Sport Car Raffle fundraiser
Knights of Columbus Council 8086
Knights of Columbus Council 8086 is the parish's fraternal Catholic service organization. The council is heavily involved in parish life — leading the First Friday Rosary, sponsoring the October Dinner Dance, supporting the mobile food distribution, and running the Knights Shield program that shops for quarantined or high-risk parishioners.
- Council number: 8086
- Website: https://knights8086.com/
- First Friday Rosary at 7:45 AM led by the Knights
- Annual Dinner Dance in October in the Parish Center Hall
- Knights Shield grocery-help program for quarantined / high-risk parishioners
- Mobile food distribution partnership with parish and Catholic Charities
Parish Thrift Store
The parish thrift store operates under the umbrella of Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church. It is staffed largely by volunteers and channels 100% of proceeds to St. Vincent de Paul ministries and emergency natural-disaster aid.
- Location: 1080 Reed Canal Rd., South Daytona, FL 32119
- Hours: Monday–Saturday 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Phone: 386-767-0571
- Home of the '$2.00 Basket Sale'
- Accepts most major credit cards; additional parking in rear
- No large-truck pickups until further notice
Parish Calendar & Sacraments Calendar
The parish maintains an online Parish Calendar that tracks weekly Masses, Saturday Confessions, monthly Baptism Sundays, and special devotions such as First Friday Adoration and First Tuesday Anointing of the Sick.
- Weekly Saturday Confessions 2:30 PM
- Baptism Sundays — 3rd Sunday of the month
- Sunday Masses at 7:30, 9:00, and 11:00 AM
- First Friday Adoration and First Friday Knights-led Rosary
Getting Involved
Beyond the Sacraments and the Mass schedule, Our Lady of Hope offers many ways for parishioners and visitors to plug in — through formation, liturgical ministry, the Knights, the thrift store, bingo, hospitality (coffee and donuts), kitchen help, and the parish picnic.
- Join a liturgical ministry (Lector, Eucharistic Minister, Altar Server, Usher)
- Volunteer at the Thrift Store or mobile food distribution
- Faith Formation teachers and substitutes needed — contact Gina Benedetto
- Youth Ministry volunteers and service-hour helpers
- Bingo kitchen crew, Coffee & Donuts Sunday-morning hospitality
- Parish Picnic — May 3, 12 PM – 3 PM (Youth Ministry Sno-Cone booth)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. George Moreau1981–1989
Founding pastor; celebrated the first Masses at Carriage Cove Mobile Home Park, Spruce Creek High School, Spruce Creek Elementary, and the CWA hall near the church property.
- Fr. Raymond O'Leary1989–2008
Oversaw building of the new church (blessed Jan. 15, 1989), burned the mortgage on Nov. 20, 1994, and led the 1996–97 parish center project. Retired July 2008 as Pastor Emeritus; died October 9, 2019.
- Fr. Joseph PinchockJuly 1, 2008 – July 31, 2011
Arrived with Fr. Stephen Ogonwa as parochial vicar.
- Fr. Christopher A. HoffmannAugust 1, 2011 – July 31, 2020
Fr. Bernard Kiratu joined as parochial vicar on July 1, 2013.
- Fr. Matthew MelloAugust 1, 2020 – present
Current pastor; Fr. Titus Kachinda initially assigned as parochial vicar, followed by Fr. 'Paul' Khanh Dau on September 1, 2021.